First published back in August of 2026, ‘Motel Styx Undressed’ was a companion book to accompany Jonathan Butcher and Michelle von Eschen’s co-authored novel ‘Motel Styx’ (2024).
Since the Lazarus Act was passed legalising consensual necrophilia, America’s first Necrotel – Motel Styx – had become a controversial sensation. Public scrutiny only increased further after the site was subjected to a series of killings which saw a lunatic rampage through the hotel and grounds.
However, the appeal of Merl Bonvante’s necrotel continued despite the public outcry. Necros from around the world still travelled to the dusty spot, located along the Chihuhuan Desert roadside, to fulfil their deepest and darkest desires.
Even for those who wouldn’t ever dream of booking themselves into Motel Styx, let alone partaking in any of the necrophiliac activities on offer, they were nevertheless lured into the controversial story by morbid curiosity. The internet was rife with forum chatter. Articles surrounding the rise of the necrotel and others around the globe were aplenty. Motel Styx had captured the imagination of the world.
It was therefore only a matter of time before the most pertinent of the published items were collected into a written documentary. A collection that pooled together articles, book excerpts, interviews, and first-hand accounts.
Of those collected pieces, we have Motel Styx proprietor – Merl Bonvante’s own words, taking us through his story from the end his father’s funeral home, in which Merl had secretly explored his dark desires, to the man creating America’s first ever necrotel, where necros (like Merl) could get together, embrace, fulfil and celebrate their once darkly secretive side.
We discuss the sudden rise and now near-acceptance of necrophilia, possibly sparked by the live-streamed double-funeral of celebratory couple – Jackie and Joe Marino. We visit the corpse capsule hotel in Tokyo, Japan (the Shitai Kapuseru Hoteru), where journalist Jen Cosgrove, from Extreme Taboos Magazine, takes us through the variety of necro-choices on offer at Motel Styx.
We have an anonymous confession from a twenty-one-year-old necrotel guest, who’s first experience is far from what he expected, wanted, or indeed is anything close to what he disclosed on the r/graypill subreddit.
We have a trio of necro hints and tips from veteran necrophile – Uncle Stevie – taking us all the way through the basics of necrosex, onto suggested positions, and finally to the hard stuff – the joy of combining necrosex with mutilation.
We have an exploration of the use of the drug Synthamort. A drug which acts like a beta blocker to mimic the symptoms of death. We also return to long returning guest, Linette, who’s struggled to let go of her husband, Alfred, after he passed away, but is finally coming to peace with where her life is at.
We have an exclusive interview with convicted serial killer, Henry Freeman (aka the Nightbeast), who blames Motel Styx for making him the beast he is. The book discloses details of the shows appearing on Motel Styx’s new necro-TV channel – the No Vacancy Channel.
Then we have the first-hand account of the re-enactment of grave robbing necrosex performed in Motel Styx’s Graveyard Fantasy Suite, by a long-time connoisseur of the morbid hobby. There’s an interview with a middle-aged woman named Amberlyn, who’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer and wants to provide her post-death body to the necrotel.
Finally, we have the tragic story of the good Christian teenager, Teri Anderson, telling us of her close and intimate friendship with a young woman called Lucia, and how Teri became known as the Christian Corpse Girl.
Together, these various articles, interviews and first-hand accounts paint a picture of not only the necrotel, but more importantly, those that visit it, their stories, and their very real lives. We perhaps see necrophilia for what it really is. Maybe misunderstood? Certainly not accepted or embraced by all.
But for better or for worse, it’s evident to see in this companion alone if nothing else, that ‘Motel Styx’ is here to stay…
Oh, how I enjoyed reading the first book – the novel ‘Motel Styx’ (2024). It kinda had it all in there – the taboo of necrophilia, absolute bucketloads of gore, devilishly dark erotica, adrenaline-pumping action, and one hell of a gripping plot.
This second instalment in the series isn’t a sequel per se, it’s more a companion publication to accompany the first book. As such, you really do need to have read the first book before devouring this add-on piece. Otherwise, you’ll spoil some surprises that await you. You’ll soil the necro fun (and not in a good way).
Essentially, the companion book offers up some further insight and substance to this post-Lazarus Act world. Short articles, interviews, first-hand accounts, all that good stuff – compiled together here to give us a deeper and often more personal insight into guests and those associated with the necrotel.
The breadth of different personalities and indeed different experiences exhibited in the book is one of its greatest aspects. From properly screwed up maniacs like Uncle Stevie, to those who’ve taken their necrosex from real graveyards to the safer (and now legal) fantasy suites at Motel Styx, all the way to a first-time visitor who finds necrophilia really isn’t for him in a moment of crushing clarity.
The longest and most accomplished piece within the companion book is by far and away that of Teri Anderson and her personal (and societal) downfall. A sort of necro coming-of-age story, drenched in romance and simmering with post-death erotica. At 34 pages, this faux written account describing her adolescent life and how she came to be at Motel Styx with her close friend Lucia, is a powerfully moving read whilst also being about as dark as it comes. A Motel Styx short story, which takes you along an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, holding you in a death-grip until the shocking end.
Other highlights of the companion book include the twenty-one-year-old necrotel guest, who’s essentially an incel type of guy – live-posting on the r/graypill subreddit about his experience. Only, this necro-wannabe doesn’t quite have the experience he thought he wanted. In fact, the whole human experience is so perfectly delivered by the authors. It encapsulates a reality regarding such online forum users, exposing the human nature that pushes and pushes such folk to be “that guy”, but the reality of actually having sex with a corpse isn’t for everyone! Let’s be honest, it’s quite a niche fetish and certainly not one to push yourself into for online kudos!
As with the first novel, the writing within this companion book is superb. It’s taught, punchy, and so often drenched from head to toe in the very darkest of black comedy. Although not a novel in itself, the book still reads almost akin to one, with the collected pieces ordered in such a way the book again takes us through another journey of moral descent.
There’s again a wealth of grim and gory necro fun in this companion book. A thoroughly entertaining read in itself, that extends and thickens out the wild necro world of ‘Motel Styx’ (2024).
The companion book runs for a total of 154 pages.
© DLS Reviews
Other ‘Motel Styx’ instalments:
- ‘Motel Styx’ (2024)
- ‘Motel Styx Undressed’ (2026)
